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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
In John 14:12, Jesus makes an amazing claim: "I tell you the truth, anyone, who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the F...
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Lena Wms
Supporter
The question, "What did Jesus mean by 'Greater Works,'?" has been merged with this thread. I would love to address this question. As a follower of Jesus Christ what is the one thing I can do that Jesus could not do Himself? Lift up His NAME! I firmly believe this is the Greater Work that all Christians are called to do. Sadly, we see in today's society that man has a diseased perception of reality and they actually believe they are here to make their own name known among their peers. However, this is not true. JESUS said if I be lifted up, I will draw all men. Yet, Jesus could not crucify Himself. It took someone else lifting Him up. Our calling as Christians is to lift Jesus up in all we do. For example, do you get to work on time? Give a full days work? Are you polite in traffic? Do you kick the dog? Are you sweet to your companion? Do you treat others better than yourself? Or do we lift ourself up? For example: "They better know who I am? After all, I went to [blah blah] college and I'm educated." "Where's my coffee you idiot? Oh I'm sorry, wife." Which example sounds like your life is exalting the King of all Kings? Greater thing shall we do.. we shall lift up His NAME in ALL we do! Be Blessed, Lena
Mike Allen
Supporter
While there may be more Christians exercising "works" which come from the Holy Spirit, commentators vary on wether Jesus laid aside His heavenly glory and power. Since Jesus said He only did what the Father was doing and He only had 3years of ministry reported in the gospels AFTER he was baptised in water and Holy Spirit, it is reasonable that on Earth Jesus was limited. However Jesus showed clearly what was possible for a human being filled with God's Sprit could do in Peter's behaviour after Pentecost transformed him. Once Christians believe what Jesus promised, and act on this, the Church, Jesus' Bride is destined for greater works simply by duration and numbers of Christians. But remember the Bible says in all things Christ has the pre-eminence. Therefore since He still works in us through the power of God's Holy Spirit, He will deservedly be honoured for these greater works and we will give honour and praise to Him who deserves our praise, honour and loving adoration.
Simplicius Pereira
Supporter
The Holy Spirit is the third person of Trinity which Jesus promised to send upon ascending to heaven to his father. With his help his followers can do even greater things than him, meaning the holy spirit can be present everywhere and in everyone, whoever believes in Jesus and in his power. So naturally with the help of holy spirit his followers can do greater things, which includes the continuation of his salvation act in different corners of the earth and among multitudes of people, who are much more than were present at the place where he had public ministry. Adding to that today we have electronic media, which brings all the people together from all over the globe. So the reach is higher, the effect is higher and the healing and the faith in God grows much higher. If any follower of Jesus does greater things than him, it is seen that it is through his own action, strength and power. We saw it in apostles, Paul, Martyrs, Saints and many more faithful who bore witness to Christ in their own unique way. In all these Jesus and our Father in heaven find glory and happiness for an eternal union with them.
Gene Deloach
Supporter
Greater works, what does that mean? Bear with me for a moment, please. There is a universal will of God for His creation. I identify with it as the three S,s to Gods will: First and foremost, Salvation in His “only begotten Son” Second, Separation through obedience to Gods word. Third, to serve in His Spirit. These work concurrently in the life of a person that has trusted and committed their life to God through His Son. Salvation is that one time experience that is the foundation for the other two. The second and third are progressive. As we separate to His word we experience a greater service in His Spirit! When we talk about “greater works” the question is what greater work is there than the wonderful everlasting work of Salvation. To me this means that now I have the ability, the power, the privilege and most importantly the responsibility to share this great work in us, again Salvation, with all we meet, greet and know. Believers can experience what the Father has accomplished in each one of us through His Son, Jesus Christ, and by His Spirit that now resides within us in the life of others. By no means not that we can now save another person, but that we can through allowing the light and life of Christ to shine through us in touching the lives of many to the glorification of Christ! The Holy Spirit is given by Christ to believers, to glorify Christ in our life and before the world. We now are a participant, a wonderful part of the ministry of our savior. If we read this chapter in full it very clearly explains that our life, our love is demonstrated through our obedience to His word. I truly believe that salvation and service are joined or connected together by our separation, obedience to Gods word. This in the lives of so many equal “greater works” our Savior tells us we can do!
Ricky Lawwill
Supporter
Can we do greater works than Christ and how is it possible? Our works come after the cross and the resurrection. What greater works can we do are found in John 3:16. God gave us his son Christ Jesus that whosoever will call on the name of the lord shall be saved. There is no greater works than presenting Christ as savior. Nothing measure up to Christ as savior. Our works is to introduce Christ to a lost and dying world. The presentation of Christ is the greatest work of all. When a soul is won to the kingdom it becomes a greater work.
Jeffrey Johnson
Supporter
Is it really possible for Christians to do greater works than Jesus? We need to understand what Jesus was saying. No, we cannot resurrect people, cure people, make people walk - make people see these were things that Jesus did because of his power and the Holy Spirit. He did not mean that we would perform miracles as he did. But yes, based on Jesus' promise in John 14:12, Christians can do "greater works," interpreted not as higher-quality miracles but as greater in scope, extent, and geographical reach. Because Jesus ascended to the Father and sent the Holy Spirit, His ministry expanded globally through believers, spreading the gospel further than His limited, localised earthly ministry. A breakdown of what "greater works" means: Greater in Extent (Quantity, not Quality): Jesus' ministry was confined to Palestine. Through the Congregation, the gospel has reached the entire world. The Empowerment of the Holy Spirit: Jesus stated that these works are possible because He was going to the Father and would send the Holy Spirit to empower believers. Post-Resurrection Context: The "greater works" occur in the era of the finished work of the cross and resurrection, allowing believers to preach a completed gospel. This message points to a finalised atonement. Collective, Not Individual: While some interpret this to mean individuals will perform more spectacular miracles, it is generally understood that the collective body of believers accomplishes these greater works, not individuals exceeding Jesus' power. Essentially, it is not Christians acting on their own power, but the risen Christ continuing and expanding His work through them on a global scale. Jesus' earthly ministry was largely limited to a small geographic region in Palestine for about three years. Since then, His followers have spread the gospel to the "uttermost parts of the earth" for over 2,000 years, reaching billions of people. Jesus linked these works to answered prayer in His name, promising to do whatever His followers ask to glorify the Father. Jesus recognised that much work would remain to be done after his death. To his 11 faithful apostles, he said, John 14:12: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father." ESV Since Jesus was returning to heaven, his followers—not just the apostles but also all future disciples—would have to carry on the preaching and teaching work. (John 17:20) Jesus humbly acknowledged that their works would be "greater than" his. How so? In three ways. First, Jesus' followers would cover more territory. Second, they would reach more people, numbering in the millions, and hundreds of thousands of new ones are being baptised and becoming followers of Jesus Christ. Third, they would preach for a longer period of time—right down to this day, Jesus expressed confidence in his followers when he said they would do "works greater than these." He was placing in their hands a work that was of utmost importance to him, that of preaching and teaching "the good news of the Kingdom of God." (Luke 4:43) He was convinced that they would faithfully carry out the assignment. How encouraging it must be for the apostles and his followers today to hear Jesus say those words in John 14:12: "He that exercises faith in me, that one also will do the works that I do; and he will do works greater than these." We are surely blessed today to have this great privilege of carrying on the work that Jesus started, but not only that, to see the accomplishment of the Holy Spirit in directing this gospel message worldwide.
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